Cycle



l atented Aug 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES AXEL E. BLOMSTRAND, OF APPLETOIN, WISCONSIN.

CYCLE.

Application filed December 9, 1927.

My invention relates generally to vehicles but more particularly tocycles for use on ice or snow and of the generaltype dis closed in U. S.Letters Patent No. 1,4l98,992 granted to me June 24, 1924, and adaptedfor use by the person using it bearing his weight through one foot uponthe device and propelling the device by pushing it along by engaging hisother foot with the surface on which the device travels, the devicehaving a steering section positioned to be grasped by the hands of theoperator, the manner of propelling the device being very similar towheeled structures commonly provided for children and adapted to bepropelled by one foot while the weight of the child is sustained by thedevice through his other foot. Certain of my objects are to simplify theconstruction. disclosed in my said patent and render it less expensiveto manufacture; to provide a construction of device which may be shippedin knocked-down condition to economize space, and be readily assembledinto operative condition; and other objects as will be manifest from thefollowing description. V

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a cycle constructedin accordancewith my invention. Figure 2 is a plan sectional view of the devicetakenat the line 2 on Fig. l and Viewed in the direction ofthe arrow; andFigure 3, a vertical cross sectional View taken at the line 3 on Fig. land viewed in the direction of the arrow.

The construction shown is formed of a rear runner section 4 and a frontrunner section 5, these runner sections, which are arranged in alignmentwith eachother, having their front ends upwardly, curved as representedat 6 and 7, respectively, each of these sections being shown as formedof a bar section 8 and a metal strip runner-portion 9 secured to theunderside of the bar section 8 in any suitable way. a

The runner section 5 which constitutes a steering section and is adaptedto be swung at will into diflierent angular positions relative totherunner section 4t in a horizontal plane, is provided with an upwardlyand rearwardly inclined column portion 10 which is connected at itslower end with the runner section means of bolts 1.1 passing through thecolumn 10 and through the upwardly extending legportions,l2 and 13 ofSerial No. 238,870.

angle brackets 14: and 15, respectively, the horizontal leg portions 16and 17 of which are secured to the upper edge of the runner section 5 atopposite sides of the column 10, as by screws 18.

The front and rear runner sections l and 5 are connected togetherthrough the medium of a reach member shown as formed of a main bodyportion 19 comprising a pair of opposed spaced-apart strip portions 20integrally connected at their forward ends, the member 19 beingpreferably formed from a single strip bent upon itself between its ends.The forward end portion of the member 19 is shaped to provide a cylindrical journalling portion 21 for the column 10, this journalling portioncontaining, in its rear side, a recess 22 extending longitudinallythereof, this recess being formed by so shaping the strip portions ofthe member 19 as shown that they are spaced apart to provide thisrecess.

The spaced-apart strip portions of the reach member in'cline downwardlyand rearwardly between their ends and are shaped to provide thesubstantially horizontal portions 23 terminating at the rear end of thereach member in depending extensions 24 which extend at opposite sidesof the rear runner section 4 and are pivoted to the latter, adjacent itsrear end as by the pivot lng pin 25 passing through these extensions andthe runner section 4;.

Guide means are provided to prevent relative lateral movement betweenthe reach member and the rear runner section l, these guide means in theparticular construction shown comprising an upwardly extending strap 26straddling the rear runner section at adjacent the forward end of thelatter and rigidly secured thereto as by the fastening device 27, thereach member 19 extending guidingly through this strap member.

The reach member 19 also comprises a lower, brace, portion 28 shown asformed oi a strip of metal bent upon itself midway between its ends topresent a substantially cylindrical journalling portion 29 at itsforward end in which the column 10 is journalled, the rear ends of thestrip sections overlapping the strip sections of the portion 19 of thereach member and rigidly secured thereto as by the rivets represented at30. The journalling portion 29 is formed as described of the journallingportion 21 to provide a recess in the rear wall of the recess 22.

The reach member 19 is provided adjacent its rear end with a rest 31 forthe operator, this rest being shown as a foot plate upon which theperson using the cycle stands with one foot in using the device. Therest 31 is supported on the horizontal portions 23 of the reach memberand is shown as formed of a top plate 32 provided with a depending cleatwhichextends into the space between the horizontal portions '23 of thereach member to which it secured as by the fastening devices representedat 34c.

The column is provided atits upper end with a cross bar 3 5 and is sodisposed that the bar 35 extends in such position that the user,grasping it while propelling the vehicle with one foot, may, withthe'maximum, ease, steerthe cycle.

Thecolumn 10 is also provided with a lower pin 36 projecting laterallytherefrom and a pair of upper pins 37 and 38 also extending laterally ofthe column and preferably inhalignment with the pin 36 as shown, thepins 36 and 37 being provided for the purpose ofsupporting the front endof the reach? member 19 of the column 10 and the pin 38 for the purposeof preventing accidental displacement of the reach inember 9 and column10 relative to each other. The front runner section 5, column 10 andreach member 19 are provided as separable members to permit the deviceto be packed ina relatively small space for storage or shipping.

In theasscmbling ofthe parts of the device, thelower end of the column10 is threaded through therjo urnalling portions 21 and 29 of the reachmember 19 over the top thereof, the pin 36 passing downwardly throughthe recess 22 in the journalling porion 21 and then through thecorresponding recess in the journalling portion 29 and the pin 37passing downwardly through the recess 22;. The columnlO is then rotatedapproximately 180 to the position shown in Fig. 1-, in which positionthe pins 36. and

.37: extend directly beneath the journalling portions 2l and29,.respectively, and the upper pin overlies the journalling portion 21.The front runner section 5 is then assembledwith the column to theposition shown in Fig. land these parts secured together by the bolts 11in which assembled condition the device is readyfor use.

It will be noted that by constructing a device in accordance with myinvention it is notonly rendered rigid and easy to control, butby'reason of the pivotal connection between the runner section l and theforward 7 runner section 5, as represented at 25, these sections arecapable of movement relative to each other 1n a vertical planewhich'renders the device highly adapted for'traveling over rough orbumpy surfaces, the provision of the rest 31 on the reach memberreducing the amount of upward and downward movement of this part in theoperation of the device over rough or bumpy surfaces, as compared withthe supporting of the rest directly on the rigid runner section l.

lVhile I have illustrated and described a. particular constructionembodying my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending tolimit it thereto, as the same may be variously modified and alteredwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A vehicle comprising a rear section, a front, steering, sectioncomprising a steering column, journalling means on said rear section forsaid steering column, said sections being separable at said journallingmeans and said journalling means being internally recessed in thedirection of the length of said journalling means, and a pin extendinglaterally from said column and adapted to pass through said. recess inthe assembling of said sections and underlie said ournalling means inthe linal assembled position of said sections.

2. A vehicle comprising a rear section, a front, steering, sectioncomprising a. steering column, journalling means on said rear sectionfor said steering column, said sections being separable at saidjournalling means and said journalling means being in.- terna llyrecessed in the direction of the length of said journalling means, andspaced apart pins extending laterally from said column, one of said pinsbeing adapted to pass through said recess in the assembling of saidsections and underlie said journalling means and the other of said pinsoverlying said journalling means in the final assembled position of saidsections.

3. A vehicle comprising a rear section, av front, steering, sectioncomprising a steering column, journalling means on said rear section forsaid steering column, said sections being separable at said journallingmeans, said journalling means comprising spaced apart journallingportions internally recessed in the direction of the length of saidportions, pins spaced apart and extending laterally from said column thelower one of which is adapted to pass through both of said recesses andthe upper one of which is adapted to pass through the recess in theuppermost journalling portion in the assembling of said sections andunderlie said journalling portions, respectively, in the final assembledposition of said sections, and a third pin above said first-named pinsand extendinglaterally from said column and adapted to overlie the upperone of said journalling portions.

4. A vehicle comprising a rear section, a

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a recess extending lengthwise of nalling portion, and a pin extendinglaterally from said column and adapted to pass through said recess inthe assembling of said sections and underlie said journalling portion inthe final assembled position of said 15 sections.

AXEL E. BLOMSTRAND.

said jour- 10

